Nunsense

The arts, like subdivisions, are increasing their presence in the southwest suburbs, with volunteers flocking to a new theater group. "We thought this area could really use a community theater," said Harriet Hamilton of Frankfort, who organized the Lincoln-Way Theatre Guild. "There's a lot of people out here with performing talents." Hamilton was optimistic when she started the amateur theater group, which debuts Saturday and Sunday with performances of "Nunsense" in the Lincoln-Way...

Somewhere, someone is probably working on a scholarly dissertation on what I've come to think of as "the Wacky Nun Phenomenon." From Sally Field's perky airborne television exploits to Whoopi Goldberg's "Sister Act" flicks to the made-in-Chicago "Late Nite Catechism" franchise, fun with nuns is a surefire formula for boffo box office. No one has exploited that formula with more relish (or shamelessness, depending on one's point of view) than Dan Goggin, the creator of "Nunsense" and...

"Nunsense," new at the Forum Theatre, seems dedicated to the proposition that the brides of Christ are also natural-born daughters of show biz. John Powers, in "Do Black Patent Leather Shoes Really Reflect Up?," his hit musical about childhood in the Roman Catholic school system, was perhaps the first to discover that nuns were ripe subjects of affectionate amusement. But Dan Goggin, the author and director of "Nunsense," has gone him one better by building a show exclusively around five nuns,...

Nunsense: Musical nuns have been entertainment gold for decades, from Maria belting out the title song to "The Sound of Music" to the late Jeanine Deckers (a.k.a. "The Singing Nun"), who hit number one with "Dominique" in the '60s. But no one has transformed praying hands to jazz hands quite as successfully as Dan Goggin, whose "Nunsense" franchise (now up to seven separate shows, including "Meshuggah-Nuns" and "Nunsensations: The Nunsense Vegas Revue") shows no signs of slowing down in its third...

Nunsense," which opens Thursday at Candlelight's Forum Theater in Summit, is an irreverent, sacri-delicious musical that features five off-the- wall sisters prone to puns and poking fun at--what else?--nuns. It was written and directed by 42-year-old Dan Goggin, a former seminarian from Alma, Mich., who has parlayed his parochial background into a no-nonsense theatrical hit. "Nunsense," having already earned Goggin a score of Outer Critics` Circle Awards (Best Off-Broadway...

You can accuse Danny Goggin, the creator of "Nunsense," of many sins -- including the propagation of awful jokes, the promotion of nun-marionettes and the furthering of more convoluted habit gags than there are priests in Vatican City. But false advertising is not one of his faults. Goggin's latest "Nunsense" spinoff -- No. 6,238 in the series -- is titled "Nunsensations! The Nunsense Vegas Revue." And if you voluntarily walk through the door of the Drury Lane...

The lovable Georgia Engel has been good luck to every TV show she has been in. The series -- all long-running -- include "The Mary Tyler Moore Show," "Coach" and "Everybody Loves Raymond," where she plays Brad Garrett's mother-in-law. "I've been so fortunate to be associated with shows that have good writing," said the whisper-voiced actress. Psst. If "Raymond" isn't renewed, don't be surprised if Engel shows up on a "Raymond" spinoff that features Garrett in the...

The lovable Georgia Engel has been good luck to every TV show she has been in. The series -- all long-running -- include "The Mary Tyler Moore Show," "Coach" and "Everybody Loves Raymond," where she plays Brad Garrett's mother-in-law. "I've been so fortunate to be associated with shows that have good writing," said the whisper-voiced actress. Psst. If "Raymond" isn't renewed, don't be surprised if Engel shows up on a "Raymond" spinoff that features Garrett in the...

There is no more lucrative theatrical sub-genre in Chicagoland than shows that satirize Catholicism. From "Do Black Patent Leather Shoes Really Reflect Up?" to "Late Night Catechism," local audiences seem to have an insatiable appetite for nuns onstage. Perhaps it's a cathartic release of pent-up anger, a desire to debunk authority, or just plain old affection for a time when the world was more black and white, but the oldest Catholic school gag in the world invariably produces gales of knowing laughter that blow...

Auditorium setback: In another blow to the underbooked Auditorium Theatre, the non-profit venue has pulled the plug on the planned January engagement of "Nunsense" because of weak ticket sales. The "Nunsense" tour, directed by author Dan Goggin in honor of the Catholic-themed musical chestnut's 20th anniversary, continues as planned with the likes of Kaye Ballard, Georgia Engel, Darlene Love and former Miss America Lee Meriwether in the cast. Goggin has penned new...

Nunsense: Musical nuns have been entertainment gold for decades, from Maria belting out the title song to "The Sound of Music" to the late Jeanine Deckers (a.k.a. "The Singing Nun"), who hit number one with "Dominique" in the '60s. But no one has transformed praying hands to jazz hands quite as successfully as Dan Goggin, whose "Nunsense" franchise (now up to seven separate shows, including "Meshuggah-Nuns" and "Nunsensations: The Nunsense Vegas Revue") shows no signs of slowing down in its third...

Next year, perhaps, a musical comedy about death in a Roman Catholic community will be funny again--but not now. The Nodaway Community Theater Co. canceled summer performances of "Nunsense" after a June 10 attack at nearby Conception Abbey in which a man shot dead two monks and wounded two others before killing himself. "It's not the time to be making fun of the faith," said Jody Strauch, theater president. The musical comedy focuses on five nuns' efforts to raise money to bury four...

The voice was unique and unmistakable. Actress Dody Goodman was on the phone from New York, relating her plans to star here in "Nunsense," opening Sunday at the Drury Lane Oakbrook Terrace Theatre. Goodman's quavering, squeaky falsetto and hilarious deadpan comments endeared her to millions of TV viewers in her appearances on "Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman" and as the resident zany on "The Jack Paar Show." Other TV, as well as movies and stage work, added to her reputation as a lovable, eccentric flake.

Because show business often smiles on those with clever and clearly defined niches, women in black have been very profitable for Dan Goggin. Ever since he scored a hit with "Nunsense," this savvy author has turned the lampooning of sisterdom into a personal theatrical industry that shows no signs of diminishing. On the theory that audiences just cannot get enough habit humor, Goggin followed his original musical with "Nunsense II." First seen locally at the Candlelight Dinner...

Auditorium setback: In another blow to the underbooked Auditorium Theatre, the non-profit venue has pulled the plug on the planned January engagement of "Nunsense" because of weak ticket sales. The "Nunsense" tour, directed by author Dan Goggin in honor of the Catholic-themed musical chestnut's 20th anniversary, continues as planned with the likes of Kaye Ballard, Georgia Engel, Darlene Love and former Miss America Lee Meriwether in the cast. Goggin has penned new...

A rousing production of the musical comedy "Nunsense" has members of the CenterLight Sign & Voice Theatre in Northbrook doing things they've never done before. Deaf actors have always taken center stage at CenterLight. But this season, to commemorate the center's 25th anniversary, founder Patricia Scherer is on stage for the first time since forming the troupe in the early '70s, playing the part of Mother Superior. The theater company also has brought back other actors from its early...

Next year, perhaps, a musical comedy about death in a Roman Catholic community will be funny again--but not now. The Nodaway Community Theater Co. canceled summer performances of "Nunsense" after a June 10 attack at nearby Conception Abbey in which a man shot dead two monks and wounded two others before killing himself. "It's not the time to be making fun of the faith," said Jody Strauch, theater president. The musical comedy focuses on five nuns' efforts to raise money to bury four...

A special performance of "Nunsense II" will be presented Thursday in the Woodstock Opera House to benefit Big Brothers/Big Sisters of McHenry County. Produced and performed by the Woodstock Musical Theatre Company, the sequel to "Nunsense," by Dan Goggin, is scheduled to run through Sunday. All proceeds from the special performance, at $17 a ticket, will go to BBBS. "We are thrilled about the generosity shown our agency by the Woodstock Musical Theatre Company," said Mary...

When the screwball Dan Goggin musical comedy "Nunsense" was first made available to community theaters eight years ago, Woodstock Musical Theatre Company was one of the first Chicago-area groups to snap up the rights. The show was such a hit that it was reprised for a second run over the summer. Now the group is finally getting around to Goggin's sequel, "Nunsense II," which continues through Feb. 28 under the direction of Brian Sager. Kathie Comella, April Martinez,...